EXCLUSIVE: Franklin Regional Security Officer Let Go, Speaks Out

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – He was called a hero. Security officer John Resetar was stabbed in the halls of Franklin Regional High School – he then helped take down the suspect.

Now, he’s no longer on the job.

For the first time, Resetar is speaking exclusively to KDKA about what happened that day and how he was fired.

For the first time in nine years, John Resetar won’t be there when school begins at Franklin Regional High School.

Last April, Resetar was the first school security guard to confront Alex Hribal, the sophomore who’s accused of slashing 20 students with two knives.

When the stabbings started, students ran out of the building in fear and chaos.

Resetar says he ran down the hallway, saw blood on the floor and was stabbed by the knife-wielding student.

“Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the kid standing in front of me,” said Resetar, “and saw the knife starting to come up, so I knew I got stabbed and I fell back against the wall.”

By then, he says an assistant principal tackled the student and Resetar jumped on his legs and grabbed his arms to control the knives.

Even with a stab wound, Resetar managed to get control of the other knife.

“But he had freed my one arm,” he said. “So I punched the kid, three times and he dropped the knife.”

Resetar recovered from the stab wound and went back to work. He has received cards and letters, offering congratulations from all over the world.

But a few weeks ago, he received a letter from Capital Asset Protection and the district agreed to end his employment, effective immediately.

“What really upset me, more than anything,” Resetar said, “is that nobody would sit down and talk to me and tell me to my face. You know, I had to get a letter that was three weeks before school.”

“He takes a knife to the stomach and he’s out of a job,” said attorney Timothy Dawson. “Franklin Regional needs to step up. They need to get their heads out of the sand and address this man’s needs. They could create a job for him.”

“The way I was let go, I didn’t think it was fair,” Resetar said, “for what I did for the school.”

No one from the security company commented, but Mary Catherine Reljac, Assistant Superintendent of Franklin Regional School District, said “We are thankful for all that he has done, and we wish him all the best.”

“It’s kind of sad,” said business owner Chris Ellson. “The man put his life down to protect some of the students from Franklin Regional and he just wants some answers on why he was fired.”

Bob Allen joined the KDKA-TV team in January 2000 as a General Assignment reporter.
Bob began his broadcasting career in 1979 at Beaver Falls radio station WBVP. From there, he went on to WKBN Radio in Youngstown. His first television job was also...